Pumped hydro action in Tasmania

Tasmania’s hydro power capacity is set for expansion which could cost more than $3 billion, with potential to provide enough extra energy to power half a million homes.

Two big pumped hydro storage projects involving the Mersey-Forth scheme and one each at the Great Lake and Lake Burbury would be examined, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Premier Will Hodgman revealed on Thursday, plus an alternative of nine smaller projects.

They said the governments would start expanding the state’s hydro system to “provide affordable, reliable electricity as we transition to a lower emissions future”.

They said the Australian Renewable Energy Agency would support a Hydro Tasmania feasibility study assessing the pumped hydro schemes, and expansions of the Gordon and Tarraleah power stations would be examined.

Mr Turnbull said an expanded Tasmanian hydro system could provide enough electricity to power 500,000 homes.